‘Songs of Wexford Coast’ preserved on new DVD
WEXFORD Arts Centre is the place to be this Friday, October 11 for the launch of the DVD ‘Songs of the Wexford Coast’ by artist and folklorist Michael Fortune.
This DVD features new recordings of songs by traditional singers that appeared in the 1948 publication ‘Songs of the Wexford Coast’ by the the late Fr. Joseph Ranson from Kilmuckridge. This visionary publication saw Fr. Ranson travel the coast of Wexford in the late 1930s and 1940s collecting song words and airs from singers of songs relating to local fishing tragedies and shipping disasters before they were lost in time.
Some seven decades later Ballygarrett native Michael Fortune has teamed up with the County Wexford Traditional Singers to bring various Wexford singers to the specific locations around the coast of Wexford from Donaghmore to Ballyhack where they performed these songs on camera over the summer months. This strand of the project saw Michael work with Wexford greats including Phil Berry, Ronan Berry, Mary O’Brien, Deirdre Tobin, Maeve Townsend, Bill Considine, Marty Murphy, John Furlong, Seamus Brogan, John Breen and Aileen Lambert.
‘Not only are these fine songs, they were also important historical documents of local events that probably would have never been remembered otherwise,’ said Michael. ‘These recordings bring these stories alive once again and will be a great resource for people in years to come.’
This limited edition DVD will also feature extra material including recordings Michael made of the late Leo Carty in Rosslare in 2007, plus two short films he made in 2017 regarding St Martin’s Eve fishing folklore from Co Wexford.
Some of these songs will be performed on the night while you will also be treated to two musical pieces by the direct relations of Fr. Ranson: cousins Mark Redmond and Emily Redmond and father and son team, Tom Redmond and Kevin Redmond.
DVDs will be available to buy on the night and a singing session will take place in Mary’s Bar after the DVD launch. Admission is free to both events but organisers are appealing to people to arrive early to get a seat and most importantly get a copy of the DVD before they are gone.
The project was devised and produced by Michael Fortune and supported by County Wexford Traditional Singers and the Creative Communities Scheme from the Arts Department of Wexford County Council.
If you would like to find out more please call Michael on 087 6470247 or email micfortune@gmail.com